Africa

Africa wants close cooperation with China, India

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-06-15 03:40

Africa is not afraid of China and India and Africa wants close cooperation with the two Asian giants, a senior South African government official said here on Thursday.

South African Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa made the statement at a plenary session on Africa and Asia at the on- going World Economic Forum on Africa.

The minister noted that those concerns about China and India come from developed countries, especially those countries which had a long colonial rule over African countries.

Mpahlwa said: "our consensus is that relations between Africa and Asia should be developed. Trade should be developed and we should be mutually benefited."

He said that China's fast economic growth also provides many opportunities for the African countries and Africa should be benefited from such growth.

Other four panelists echoed support to the South African minister, saying that Africa should welcome rather than fear the growing Chinese and Indian demand for its raw natural resources.

Chinese former foreign minister Li Zhaoxing said that with its rapid economic growth, Asia has become an important driver of the world economy. Africa enjoys sustained economic growth and new progress in its integration process.

Against that background, he added, "it is of great significance for Asian and African countries to uphold the Bandung spirit and forge close partnership in order to better address the challenge of globalization and promote world peace and development.

Li said closer economic ties could only benefit all concerned, with Asia and Africa accounting for three-quarters of the world population, adding: "Development of these two continents will have a direct impact on global prosperity and sustainable development."

India's Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said that Chinese and Indian products flow into Africa because China and India have strong capacity. But Africa does not have such capacity.

He noted that it was Africa's own responsibility, not that of any of its trading partners, to empower itself to make use of the new opportunities.